Bro Jeff: Smart Like a Fox

We previously stated before reading the arrest warrant for Jeffrey Dale Eddie that he could serve up to 20 years for his crimes. After reading the charges and conferring with our resident attorney, we see that would be a stretch.

Eddie now faces 36 charges of sexual abuse of a minor over the age of 12, a Class B felony. The maximum punishment for this crime is one year on each count, usually served concurrently. He also faces two charges of possession of child pornography for which the maximum punishment is 10 years, but is usually reserved for repeat offenders. If convicted, Eddie will certainly have to register as a sex offender, but unless the judge demands consecutive sentencing, Eddie could serve much less time than most of us would have hoped for.

Why? It seems the sexual abuse did not involve sodomy (oral sex) until Eddie's victim turned 12. If Eddie had been guilty of this crime with a child under 12, he would have been charged with the crime in the first degree. Isn't that convenient?

No, we don't think this was any accident of dates and whims. We think Eddie knew exactly what he was doing. A reader has told us Eddie's Facebook page stated a man's character is what he does when no one is looking. Well...we certainly all know what Eddie's true character is now, don't we?

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Muscle Shoals Police have stated they believe additional charges will be filed against the one-time Baptist youth minister. If so, it could be a whole new ball game.



Shoalanda